Search

Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
Banded iron formation
Department of

Mineral Sciences

Mineral Sciences Icon
Scientists in the Department of Mineral Sciences seek to understand the evolution of the Earth and Solar System by studying samples from environments ranging from the mantle to mine drainages, from volcanic arcs to the asteroid belt. The department is home to world-class collections of rocks, minerals, meteorites, and gems, as well as the instruments our scientists use to study these specimens in detail.

**While the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History exhibition spaces are now open to the public, our collections remain closed to most staff and all researchers, and the museum’s COVID-19 loan moratorium remains in effect. Currently, there is no capacity to accommodate collections activities including visits, image requests, loans, and shipments. Do not send packages to Mineral Sciences staff at this time. While there is no current date set for when on-site collections activities will resume, we will update as soon as this changes.

Update (2021-09-28): Shipments of Smithsonian Microbeam Standards have resumed. Other loan activities are still on hold.**

Featured Content

Global Volcanism Program

The Global Volcanism Program seeks to document, understand, and disseminate information about global volcanic activity. Its weekly and monthly reports provide scientists with a record of ongoing eruptions they can use to guide research and hazard management related to volcanoes.
Volcano erupting with lava streaming down the side. A forest is at its foot and the eruption is reflected in a dark lake.

Using the Collections

Our collection of over 600,000 specimens is available for study by researchers worldwide. Find specimens and request a loan using the links below.

Access the Collections

Collections Overview

Samples Requests & Loan Policy

Reference Materials
Rock Creek sapphires
Search the collection

Instrumentation

Four element maps from the electron microprobe
Electron microprobe
Backscatter image of pyrite crystals
Scanning electron microscope
Melt inclusions in an olivine wafer
Fourier-transform infrared spectrometer
Research Support Facilities

Seminar Schedule

Spring 2020 seminar schedule
Date Title Speaker
Jan 8 Using Jack Hills zircons to decode the secular evolution of the early Earth Michael Ackerson, Mineral Sciences
Jan 15 Implications of isotopic heterogeneity of short-lived systems for Earth formation, long-term evolution, and present processes Richard J. Walker, University of Maryland
Jan 22 Interpreting Redox-Sensitive Minerals to Understand Soil Environmental Conditions Martin Rabenhorst, University of Maryland
Jan 29 In situ x-ray diffraction studies of minerals under dynamic loading Sally J. Tracy, Carnegie Science Earth and Planets Division
Feb 5    
Feb 12    
Feb 19 Heavy iron isotope composition of iron meteorites caused by core crystallization Peng Ni, Carnegie Science Earth and Planets Division
Feb 26 Rocks from Space! Wendy Bohon, Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology
Mar 4 From millennia to minutes: Timing magmatic processes using mineral diffusion chronometry Euan Mutch, University of Maryland
Mar 11 Postponed: Metamorphism and The Evolution of Plate Tectonics Robert Holder, Johns Hopkins University
Mar 18 No seminar (LPSC)  
Mar 25 Postponed Giovanni Sosa, UNAM
Apr 1 Postponed Michelle Muth, University of Oregon
Apr 8 No seminar  
Apr 15 No seminar  
Apr 22 To be announced Joy Buongiorno, Carnegie Science Earth and Planets Division
Apr 29 To be announced Andrew Steele, Carnegie Science Earth and Planets Division
May 6 To be announced  
May 13 To be announced Tanya Harrison, Planet Labs DC
May 20 Symposium in honor of Carter Hearn  
May 27 To be announced Robert Hazen, Carnegie Science Earth and Planets Division
Jun 3 To be announced Dina Bower, NASA
Jun 10 To be announced  

Seminars are held on the fourth floor of the east wing of NMNH and run from 10 to 11 a.m. unless otherwise noted. Smithsonian personnel who are not members of the department can buzz in at the entrance to the department in the fourth floor elevator lobby prior to 10 a.m. Visitors without SI badges should call the department from the visitor services office, located at the 10th and Constitution Ave entrance to the museum, by dialing Phyllis McKenzie at x31808 or Ioan Lascu at x31815.

-->